Names of fallen firefighters from Long Island added to state's memorial wall in annual ceremony

More than a third of the honorees recognized at the 27th New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony held Tuesday in the state’s capital were Long Island natives or residents.

The annual ceremony at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany recognizes firefighters who died in the line of duty. Some of those enshrined on the memorial died while responding to a call, while others, including Russell Feliciano, an FDNY firefighter who grew up and raised his daughter in Brentwood, died due to illnesses related to responding to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I’m very happy that they did this for him, especially because I feel like the men who are getting sick, and are still sick, and have passed, they didn’t get as much recognition while they were alive," said Selena Feliciano, the only child of the firefighter who died in 2022 at age 62. "It’s unfortunate that they get more recognition when they pass, but I’m grateful ... He has a grandchild, my son, and at least now I can show him all the accomplishments that his grandfather did."

While she was unable to attend the ceremony Tuesday, family members of the honored Long Islanders who made the trip said they were presented with a boxed New York State flag, listened to bells toll for their loved ones and rubbed their hands across the newly carved names. They estimated the affair drew more than 1,500 attendees, mostly current and former firefighters.

"It’s very emotional," said Jacqueline Mitchell, whose father, John P. Fogarty, of Ronkonkoma, died from 9/11-related illness in 2020 at age 81, was honored Tuesday. "It’s true when they say the firehouse is a brotherhood ... They really give up a lot of their own time to show support and represent."

The memorial was erected in 1999 and initially boasted 1,805 names. To date, the memorial honors 2,692 firefighters who served the FDNY or local fire departments.

This year’s 32 additions to the wall also include Freeport Fire Department’s Joseph P. Giordano, Greenport Fire Department’s George Matthias, and several FDNY firefighters who hail from or lived on Long Island: Thomas W. Anderson Jr., of Syosset; Frederick H. Gallagher, of West Islip; Robert J. Kelly, a Levittown native who moved to Hauppauge; Brian E. O'Flaherty, of Rockville Centre; James Redmond, of Levittown; Karl Sederholt, of Glen Head; and Christopher P. Viviano, a Levittown native who moved to Northport.

"Their names, now forever honored on the Memorial Wall, symbolize the bravery and sacrifice that define our firefighting community," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.